Graduate Design Manager

SSA Group

  • London
  • £23,000-28,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
Graduate Design Manager | Main Contractor | LondonAbout the Client: SSA are recruiting on behalf a dynamic Main Contractor who are operating in the London market, carrying out both new build and refurbishment projects across the residential & commercial sectors with projects ranging £5m-30m. Their Head office is based in St. Pauls, Central London and projects typically London Zones 1-5.About the Role: They are currently seeking a a Graduate DM to work under their Design Manager working across 2 sites:
  • - A new-build residential development including a multi-unit hostel and townhouses in West London
  • - The refurbishment and conversion of an existing office building into a specialist educational facility in Westminster
Time will be split between both projects, and the role will be predominantly site-based, giving you valuable hands-on exposure to real-world design coordination and construction activity in central London locations.This is a developmental role where you'll work closely with an experienced Design Manager. You'll get exposure to all phases of the project lifecycle and receive structured support to build confidence, technical skills, and a commercially minded approach to design decisions.About the Responsibilities:
  • Assist the Design Manager with daily design coordination tasks across both live projects.
  • Help manage input from internal teams, consultants, subcontractors, and client representatives.
  • Track key design deliverables to ensure they’re aligned with project milestones.
  • Support the collation, review, and management of design information.
  • Attend and minute design team meetings, workshops, and coordination sessions—on-site and online.
  • Log and track RFIs, TQs, and design queries across both projects.
  • Maintain trackers such as drawing registers, sample schedules, and approvals logs.
  • Document design decisions, drawing updates, and key risks accurately.
  • Monitor compliance with planning conditions, Building Regulations, and employer requirements.
  • Assist with managing design documentation using platforms like Viewpoint, Aconex, or similar.
  • Support the coordination of architectural, structural, MEP, and specialist subcontractor designs.
  • Assist in reviewing design outputs, focusing on quality, coordination, and constructability, with a clear eye on cost, programme, and practical delivery.
About the Progression & Development:
You'll be enrolled into a structured development programme, with regular one-to-one mentoring and a clear training matrix. This will guide you through:
  • The fundamentals of design management in construction
  • Understanding and interpreting technical design deliverables
  • Compliance and statutory approvals
  • Document control systems and digital workflows
  • Coordination and clash detection
  • Buildability and value engineering
  • Working with clients and consultants
  • Managing construction phase design requirements
About the Requirements:
  • Recent graduate (or final-year student) in Architecture, Architectural Technology, Construction Management, or Civil Engineering
  • Strong organisation and communication skills
  • A proactive, positive attitude with a desire to learn
  • Comfortable using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)

SSA Group